Weightlifting bar clamp

ABSTRACT

A constrictable clamp has an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weightlifting bar therethrough. A tightening mechanism includes a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of a cable around the spool and tightening the constrictable clamp onto the weightlifting bar. The knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool to relax the cable and open the clamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application generally relates to clamps for weightlifting bars. More particularly, the present invention relates to a weightlifting bar constrictable clamp having a tightening mechanism for manually winding a cable and tightening the constrictable clamp onto a weightlifting bar.

Weightlifting is a sport or activity enjoyed by many which includes the lifting of barbells and other heavy weights. Weights may be lifted as part of a strength training program or as a competitive sport.

In weightlifting, it is common to have a weightlifting bar, such as a barbell or the like, that has a central gripping portion and opposing ends onto which are placed weights, often in the form of plates, which can be increased or decreased in amount according to the strength of the user. Once the desired number of plates or weight have been added to the bar, clamps are placed on the bar next to the weights to hold them in place while the weightlifter performs his or her exercise. It is typically important to have an equal number of plates or weight on each end of the weightlifting bar so that the weightlifting bar is balanced as the weightlifter performs the exercise. Shifting of the weight can create imbalance and in extreme cases weights falling from the weightlifting bar. This can present a dangerous scenario for both the weightlifter as well as those that might be in the proximity of the weightlifter.

There are a wide variety of clamps which are used in an attempt to hold the weight plates in place on the weightlifting bar. Spring clip collars have handles or free ends which are squeezed to enable the spring clip collar to be placed over the end of the weightlifting bar adjacent to the outermost weight plate. These are generally inexpensive, light in weight, and can be quickly positioned. However, it is difficult to obtain a tight fit between the clips and the plates, which gap can create damage to the weightlifting plates. The spring clips can also be difficult to squeeze to sufficiently open to place over the end of the bar. Moreover, the spring clips can lose tension over time which can present the dangerous scenario of the weight plates sliding off the weightlifting bar during the exercise. Furthermore, spring clips are limited in the amount of weight which they can hold in place.

Screw ring collars are essentially a shaft collar having a collar which is insertable over the end of the weightlifting bar and has a manually actuated screw which is moved downwards and pressed against the bar, so as to hold the ring against the bar like a vice. These are generally comprised of metal and very durable and the user can adjust the tightening by continuing to increase the screw into the end of the bar. However, the screwing collar may apply pressure to the bar to the point where the screw damages the bar. Furthermore, tension is not applied around the entre circumference of the weightlifting bar, raising security issues. Furthermore, the screw threads may be worn over time which can adversely affect the functionality of the screw ring collar clamp.

An alternate form of the screw ring collar is the compression ring collar, wherein tightening of a bolt causes a compression ring to wrap itself around the outer circumference of the bar. Thus, tension is applied around the entire circumference of the bar. However, the screw threads may be damaged over time similar to the screw ring collars, which will weaken the tightening mechanism.

There are also snap ring collars, also known as lock-jaw collars, which are slid over the end of the barbell and a lever is used to tighten the collar onto the end of the weightlifting bar. While being able to be quickly and conveniently inserted onto the end of the weight bar, these collars have drawbacks as well in that it is not possible to tighten them once they have been snapped shut, and thus they may not be effective clamps when applied to specialty bars or bars with slightly larger or smaller diameters than they have been designed to fit. Moreover, if the weightlifting bar and weights are dropped to the floor the lever can become disengaged, resulting in the unclamping of the clamp from the bar.

There are also strap collars which are pieces of material that are wrapped around the ends of the weightlifting bars and held in place by Velcro. While strap collars have the advantages of being portable, not damaging the bar and fitting most bars as the strap collars are adjustable, strap collars have the disadvantages of being less secure than other types of collars and are limited in the amount of weight in which they can effectively hold on to the weightlifting bar.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an improved weightlifting bar clamp. Such a clamp should be quickly and easily attached onto the bar to hold the plates of weight in place. Such a clamp should be durable and not prone to failure, yet not heavy. Such a clamp should be adjustable to variations in sizes of the ends of the weightlifting bars. The present invention fulfills these needs, and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a weightlifting bar clamp which is quickly and easily inserted over an end of a weightlifting bar and clamp thereto adjacent to the weights so as to firmly hold the weights in place on the weightlifting bar. The clamp generally comprises a constrictable clamp having an opening configured for insertion of an end of the weightlifting bar therethrough. A tightening mechanism is associated with the constrictable clamp and includes a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of a cable around the spool and tightening the constrictable clamp onto the weightlifting bar.

The constrictable clamp comprises a plurality of arcuate clamping segments having elastomeric spacers connecting adjacent ends of the clamping segments. The clamping segments and spacers cooperatively define a cable track extending therethrough through which the cable is inserted. The elastomeric spacers bias the clamping segments away from one another when the cable is in a relaxed state and compress as the cable is tightened such that the clamping segments constrict and are tightened onto the weightlifting bar.

A gripper may be attached to an inner surface of each clamping segment which is configured to grip the weightlifting bar. The gripper may be comprised of an elastomeric material. The grippers may each include an weight bar engaging surface having spaced apart ridges for tightly gripping the weight bar.

The tightening mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart ratcheting teeth associated with the knob or spool for incrementally rotating the spool and winding the cable. The knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool. For example, the knob may be movable along an axis of rotation between the engaged and disengaged positions. The cable is in a relaxed state when the knob is in a disengaged position, permitting the clamp to be removed from the weightlifting bar. However, rotating the knob in the engaged position winds the length of cable around the spool and tightens the constrictable clamp onto the weightlifting bar and maintains the tension and tightening until the knob is disengaged.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weight lifting bar having a weight plate thereon held in place by a weight lifting bar clamp of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the weight lifting bar clamp of the present invention, without a tightening mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an opposite side of the weight lifting bar clamp of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of components of the weight lifting bar clamp of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a clamping segment and spacer used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a gripper exploded away from a clamping segment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of component parts of a tensioning mechanism, used in connection with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a tensioning mechanism used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned top view of the weight lifting bar clamp of the present invention in a relaxed state over an end of a weight lifting bar; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but illustrating the cable of the tensioning mechanism tensioned so as to tighten and constrict the clamp onto the end of the weight lifting bar, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a weight lifting bar clamp, generally referred to by the reference number 10. As will be more fully described herein, the clamp 10 of the present invention is designed so as to quickly and easily attach onto a weight lifting bar and firmly hold weights in place. The clamp 10 is durable and not prone to failure, yet is not heavy and does not damage the weight lifting bar. Moreover, the clamp 10 is adjustable to variations in sizes of the ends of weight lifting bars.

With reference now to FIG. 1, a weight lifting bar clamp 10 embodying the present invention is shown attached to a weight lifting bar 2, and more particularly to an end 4 of the weight lifting bar onto which plates of weight 6 are added. The clamp 10 of the present invention is inserted over the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2 and moved adjacent to the outermost weight plate 6 and tightened into place. When constricted and fully tightened onto the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2, the clamp 10 serves to hold the plates of weight 6 firmly in place on the end of the bar 4.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the clamp 10 without the tightening mechanism 12. FIG. 3 is an opposite side perspective view of the clamp 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the clamp 10 includes a constrictable portion 14 defining a weight lifting end bar receiving aperture 16. The clamp 10 also includes a tightening mechanism portion or end 18. Overall, the clamp 10 typically has a generally “FIG. 8” configuration, as illustrated. The clamp, and more particularly the constrictable portion 14 is configured so as to be constrictable when a cable 20 of the tightening mechanism 12 is tightened and drawn into the tightening mechanism 12, such as by rotating knob 22. This tensioning and tightening of the cable 20 constricts the clamp 12, and more particularly the constrictable portion 14 of the clamp, causing it to constrict and clamp onto the end 4 of the weight bar 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 4, the constrictable portion 14 of the clamp comprises a plurality of arcuate clamping segments 24 which are interconnected to one another by spacers 26. The tightening mechanism portion 18 of the clamp 10 has a clamping segment 24 at an end thereof, which is typically integrally formed therewith. When assembled to one another, the clamping segments 24 and spacers 26 create a generally circular configuration so as to form the end bar receiving aperture 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown, three separate clamping segments and the fixed segment 24 with spacers 26 therebetween are used to create a generally circular bar receiving aperture 16 and the constrictable portion of the clamp 10.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a clamping segment 24 and spacer 26 are shown. Typically, the clamping segment 24 is comprised of a relatively hard and durable material, such as a hard plastic or the like. A slot 28 is formed at each end of the clamping segment 24 which is sized and configured so as to receive a correspondingly configured insert 30 therein. The inserts 30 at the opposing ends of the spacer 26 may also be comprised of a relatively hard and durable material, such as hard plastic. In a particularly preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the spacer insert 30 is snap-fit into place within the spacer receiving slot 28, such as by pushing the insert 30 upwardly until it is received within the slot 28 and held in place by jaws 32 at a lower end thereof.

An elastomeric biasing element 34 is disposed between the spacer inserts 30. Element 34 is comprised of a material having elastomeric and biasing properties. As illustrated, the elastomeric biasing element has opposite curved surfaces so as to have a generally circular or oval configuration. In a relaxed state, the elastomeric biasing element 34 pushes the spacer inserts 30 away from one another, and thus the clamping segments 24 away from one another. However, force can be applied to the spacer inserts 30, such as by tension being applied to the clamping segments 24, which will overcome the bias and cause the curved surfaces of the elastomeric biasing element 34 to flatten. In this condition, the clamping segments 24 are constricted or brought towards one another so as to decrease the size of the end bar receiving aperture 16.

The clamp 10, and more particularly the constrictable portion 14 of the clamp, defines a cable receiving track therein. This cable receiving track is defined, at least in part, by apertures 36 extending through the spacer 26, and more particularly through the spacer inserts 30 and elastomeric biasing element 34. These apertures 36 are substantially aligned with one another and also aligned with a track 38 formed in the clamping segments 24. The track 38 may be formed by means of an open-faced channel, an enclosed channel, an elongated aperture extending through the clamping segment 24 or the like.

With reference now to FIG. 7, a tightening mechanism 12 is used to tighten the clamping segments 24 and spacers 26 so as to constrict them and decrease the size of the weight lifting end bar receiving aperture 16 so as to tightly clamp the clamp 10 of the present invention on the end bar 4. Preferably, the tightening mechanism 12 is of a ratcheting or reel closure type so as to selectively and progressively constrict and tighten the clamp 10 onto the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2. For example, a Boa™ reel-based closure system could be incorporated into the present invention.

With continuing reference to FIG. 7, the tightening mechanism 12 includes a knob 22 which engages ratcheting teeth 40 as the knob 22 is moved into an engaged position, such as being pressed downwardly onto the ratcheting teeth 40, and turned. The knob 22 may have a corresponding set of teeth which engage the ratcheting teeth 40, or may include a pawl or the like which engages with the ratcheting teeth 40 and rotate spool 42, causing the cable 20 to be wound thereon. In the exemplary tightening mechanism illustrated in FIG. 7, the ratcheting teeth 40 are attached to a body 44 which engages the spool 42. As the ratcheting teeth 40 are incrementally moved as the knob 22 is turned, the body 44 similarly turns, causing the spool 42 to turn and wind cable 20 thereon. A connecting rod 48 extends from the knob 22, through body 44, and the spool 42 through plate 50 and into a rod-receiving aperture or end 52 of base 54. A spring 56, such as the illustrated coiled flat spring, is disposed within the base 54, and is tensioned as the spool 42 is rotated. As mentioned above, this is due to the rotation of the knob 22 which has been pushed axially downwardly into engagement with the ratchet teeth 40 of body 44, such that the pawl or corresponding teeth 46 of the knob 22 engage the ratchet teeth 40 so that the knob 22 can be rotated, causing the spool 42 to be rotated, and thus wind the cable 20 thereon.

FIG. 8 illustrates the knob 22 moved downwardly into the engaged and locked position. Plate 50 is operably interconnected between the spring 56 and the spool 42, such as by having key projections 58 insertable into slots 60 of the spool 42. Thus, in the engaged position, as illustrated in FIG. 8, as the knob 22 is turned, ratchet teeth 42 are engaged and body 44 is turned, causing spool 42 to turn, as well as plate 50 and spring 56. With the knob 22 in the engaged position, when the knob is not turned, it is locked into place by means of the interlocking ratchet teeth 40 and pawl or teeth 46 associated with the knob 22. However, when the knob 22 is disengaged, such as by being pulled outwardly or upwardly, the pawl or teeth 46 associated with the knob 22 will become disengaged with the ratcheting teeth 40, enabling spring 56 to become untensioned and bias the spool 42 in the opposite rotational direction and loosen cable 20. This will occur automatically when the knob 22 is disengaged, without requiring rotation of the knob in the opposite direction.

As mentioned above, when the cable 20, which is extended through the apertures and cable track 36 and 38 is tightened, it causes the arcuate clamping segment 24 to be brought towards one another and to compress the elastomeric biasing element 34 of spacer 26, decreasing the diameter of the weight bar receiving aperture 16. This occurs progressively as the knob 22 of the tightening mechanism 12 is rotated. As such, the constrictable portion 14 of the clamp 10 is tightened onto the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2. This is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 9 and 10.

With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 6, as the clamping segments 24 are comprised of a hard and durable material, such as a hard plastic, in order to avoid damage to either the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2 or to prevent damage to the clamping segments 24, an inner surface of the clamping segment 62 preferably includes a gripping material which enhances the grip of the clamp 10 upon the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2 and prevents damage to either the end of the bar 4 or the clamping segment 24. Typically, the gripping material will be comprised of an elastomeric material in order to serve these purposes.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, one manner of achieving this result is to attach a gripper 64 having an elastomeric gripping material 66 onto the inner surface 62 of the clamping segments 24. The gripper 64 could be attached to the inner surface 62 of the clamping segment 24 in a variety of ways. Fasteners can be used in order to removably attach the gripper 64 to the clamping segment 24. As shown in FIG. 6, one or more apertures 68 are formed in the inner surface or face 62 of the clamping segment. Snap-fit fasteners 70 protrude from a surface of the gripper 64 and are configured so as to be received in a snap-fit and frictional manner within the apertures 68, so as to attach the gripper 64 to the clamping segment 24. The snap-fit fasteners 70 are slightly enlarged with respect to the apertures 68 or have a portion thereof which is adapted to be compressed and then expand after passing through the apertures 68, so as to firmly hold the fastener 70 to the face 62 of the clamping segment 24, and thus the gripper 64 firmly in place on the clamping segment 24. The gripper 64 could be removed and replaced as necessary.

With reference again to FIG. 5, in a particularly preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the gripping material 66 of the gripper 64 fully engages the circumference of the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2 as the constrictable portion 14 of the clamp 10 is tightened onto the end 4 of the bar 2. The gripping material may be formed into spaced-apart ridges by means of beveled cuts 72 which form flat-faced ridges 74. The flat faces of the ridges 74 will engage the outer surface of the bar 4 as the tightening mechanism 12 is engaged and the cable 20 tightened, causing the clamping segments 24 to move towards one another and compress the spacer element 34, as illustrated in FIG. 10. This arrangement allows the flat ridge faces 74 which engage the outer surface of the bar 4 to compress and deform slightly and still maintain contact in engagement with the bar 4, thus firmly locking the clamp 10 onto the bar 4.

With reference again to FIGS. 2 and 4, a washer 76 is insertable into a recess 78 of the tightening mechanism portion 18 of the clamp 10. The washer 76 serves to set and fasten the tightening mechanism 12 within the recessed portion 78. As discussed above, when the knob 22 is axially moved along the axis of rotation into the engaged position, as illustrated in FIG. 8, and then rotated, after the clamp 10 has been inserted over the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2, the constrictable portion of the clamp 14, and more particularly the clamping segments 24 are brought towards one another from a position illustrated in FIG. 9 to a position illustrated in FIG. 10 where the grippers 64 are in firm contact with the outer surface of the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2, so as to tightly clamp and lock the clamp 10 in place. However, upon disengaging the knob 22, such as pulling the knob 22 axially outward as discussed above, the cable 20 becomes untensioned and disengaged from the spool 42 and the biasing elements 34 serve to move the clamping segments 24 away from one another, enabling the clamp 10 to be removed from the end 4 of the weight lifting bar 2, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weight lifting bar clamp, comprising: a constrictable clamp having an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weight lifting bar therethrough and defining a cable receiving track; and a tightening mechanism including a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of cable associated with the cable receiving track of the clamp around the spool, whereby actuating the knob winds the cable onto the spool and tightens the constrictable clamp onto the weight lifting bar.
 2. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 1, wherein the tightening mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart ratcheting teeth associated with the knob or spool for incrementally rotating the spool and winding the cable.
 3. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 1, wherein the knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool.
 4. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 3, wherein the knob is movable along an axis of rotation between the engaged and disengaged positions.
 5. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 1, wherein the cable is in a relaxed state when the knob is in the disengaged position, permitting the clamp to be removed from the weightlifting bar.
 6. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 1, wherein the constrictable clamp comprises a plurality of arcuate clamping segments having elastomeric spacers connecting adjacent ends of the clamping segments.
 7. The weight lifting bar of claim 6, wherein the clamping segments and spacers cooperatively define the cable track extending therethrough.
 8. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 6, wherein the elastomeric spacers bias the clamping segments away from one another when the cable is in a relaxed state and compress as the cable is tightened.
 9. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 6, including a gripper attached to an inner surface of each clamping segment configured to grip the weight lifting bar.
 10. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 9, wherein the gripper includes a weight bar engaging surface having spaced apart ridges.
 11. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 9, wherein the gripper is comprised of an elastomeric material.
 12. A weight lifting bar clamp, comprising: a constrictable clamp having an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weight lifting bar therethrough, the clamp comprising a plurality of arcuate clamping segments having elastomeric spacers connecting adjacent ends of the clamping segments, the clamping segments and spacers cooperatively defining a cable track extending therethrough; and a tightening mechanism including a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of cable associated with the cable track around the spool; wherein the elastomeric spacers bias the clamping segments away from one another when the cable is in a relaxed state; and wherein actuating the knob winds the cable onto the spool compresses the elastomeric spacers and tightens the constrictable clamp onto the weight lifting bar.
 13. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 12, wherein the tightening mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart ratcheting teeth associated with the knob or spool for incrementally rotating the spool and winding the cable, and wherein the knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool.
 14. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 13, wherein the knob is movable along an axis of rotation between the engaged and disengaged positions.
 15. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 13, wherein the cable is in a relaxed state when the knob is in the disengaged position, permitting the clamp to be removed from the weightlifting bar.
 16. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 12, including a gripper attached to an inner surface of each clamping segment configured to grip the weight lifting bar.
 17. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 16, wherein the gripper includes a weight bar engaging surface having spaced apart ridges.
 18. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 16, wherein the gripper is comprised of an elastomeric material.
 19. A weight lifting bar clamp, comprising: a constrictable clamp having an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weight lifting bar therethrough and defining a cable receiving track; and a tightening mechanism including a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of cable associated with the cable receiving track around the spool to tighten the constrictable clamp onto the weight lifting bar; wherein the tightening mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart ratcheting teeth associated with the knob or spool for incrementally rotating the spool and winding the cable; wherein the knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool; and wherein the cable is in a relaxed state when the knob is in the disengaged position, permitting the clamp to be removed from the weightlifting bar.
 20. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 19, wherein the constrictable clamp comprises a plurality of arcuate clamping segments having elastomeric spacers connecting adjacent ends of the clamping segments, the clamping segments and spacers cooperatively defining a cable track extending therethrough.
 21. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 20, wherein the elastomeric spacers bias the clamping segments away from one another when the cable is in a relaxed state and compress as the cable is tightened.
 22. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 19, including a gripper, comprising an elastomeric material, attached to an inner surface of each clamping segment configured to grip the weight lifting bar.
 23. The weight lifting bar clamp of claim 22, wherein the gripper includes a weight bar engaging surface having spaced apart ridges. 